Ukraine is accusing Moscow of orchestrating the takeover to justify an even wider invasion.

Of the 45 million people living in Ukraine, nearly 8 million are ethnic Russians. Putin claimed the new Ukrainian government installed after the ouster of Viktor Yanukovych is fascist and will persecute the ethnic minority, saying it's his job to protect them.

Meanwhile, the crisis is dividing some families.

"Putin is not going to leave us alone," one woman said. "My sisters in Russia are offended at me and are yelling at me to not speak ill of their president, but I say to them then your president shouldn't touch us!"

For many Russians, Ukraine is viewed as part of the motherland. So when thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets 103 days ago demanding closer ties to Europe and the West, Putin wasn't too happy about it.

Russia has not recognized the new pro-Western government in Kiev, and most experts believe Moscow will try anything to ensure it fails.

This weekend, Ukraine's new but unstable government put the country on a war footing, ordering up all military reservists to active duty.

This move comes as Russian troops urge Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their weapons and pledge allegiance to Russia.